Samsung announced it's latest flagships - the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge - at the just concluded Mobile World Congress. Set to go on sale next month, the devices will be available in 60 countries in the first wave of their global launch.However, it has now come to light that some regions will see slightly different looking Galaxy S7/S7 edge units - the difference is in terms of the front Samsung logo, which appears to be missing in the Chinese and South Korean variants of the handsets.South Korean variant on left • Chinese variant on right There's currently no information on exactly what's the reason behind the move, although reports say it could be related to how "simplified and elegant" the devices look sans the front logo as well as the customer feedback Samsung received through its surveys in these regions.Also worth mentioning here is that this is not the first time the South Korean tech giant has done something like this - back in April last year, the company dropped its logo from the Japanese Galaxy S6 and S6 edge units.Source (Samsung Korea) | Samsung China | Samsung...


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Ulefone Power has a 6,050mAh battery, metal frame and wooden back for $180
While the established manufacturers got caught up in a race towards thin phones, battery capacities have suffered. Meanwhile, a clutch of lesser-known makers has realized there is untapped potential in this niche, and they've been coming out with monstrous battery capacities and attractive designs.Take Ulefone, for instance, the maker of the Ulefone Power. The phone packs a massive 6,050mAh Sony battery, over twice the iPhone 6s Plus battery capacity. The battery promises four days of normal use, 63 hours of talk time and 75 days of standby.Quick Charge tech is enabled and will fill up the whole battery in 2 hours. A 30-minute charge should be enough to last a typical day while a 5-minute charge is sufficient for 2 hours of talking.The Ulefone Power has a metal frame around its 5.5" 1080p display (which sits behind 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3). For the back, you have a choice of abrasion-proof material or wood. There is even a fingerprint reader located on the back.Here's a hands-on we managed to find:The phone comes with a 13MP Sony camera (IMX214, f/1.8 lens) with 1080p video capture with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and a dual-LED flash. The front camera is a 5MP shooter.The Power runs Android 5.1 (to be updated to 6.0 Marshmallow) on a 1.3GHz Mediatek octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and a hybrid card slot - two microSIMs or SIM + microSD. There's LTE connectivity (150Mbps) and an IR blaster.The best part is that the Ulefone Power is already available on certain online stores as a gray import for merely $180, and that's with all Google services preinstalled. Wow, Chinese manufacturers are really into changing the smartphone market. This phone seems like a great deal even if you factor in the fact that there will probably be no aftersales...


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Vivo XPlay 5 with 6GB RAM spotted for the first time in a live shot
The Vivo XPlay 5 has been frequenting the rumor mill for quite some time now, with speculations going as far back as 2014. Initially, the device was hailed as one of the supposed early adopters of the Snapdragon 810 chip. Obviously, that didn't happen, and Snapdragon 810 is no longer Qualcomm's greatest chip. However, we are still waiting on the handset, which impresses with a Snapdragon 820 SoC as well as 6GB of RAM - a world first.The aforementioned specs have already been confirmed by Vivo and the launch date set for March 1. There is even an impressive AnTuTu benchmark score already circulationg online, meaning that all we are left with is to wait for an actual glimpse of the device itself.A newly uncovered live shot claims to provide precisely that. While we have seen renders in the past, a real unit in the flesh can be used as definitive proof of the Vivo XPlay 5's design. The front of the phone clearly features a pretty curved display on both sides and Vivo's typical row of capacitive buttons. As for other suggested specs - the panel itself is allegedly a 5.5-inch one with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. We already mentioned the Snapdragon 820 SoC and whopping 6GB of RAM. Other than that, we have some insight on the camera setup, which will allegedly consist of a 16MP rear and 8MP front shooter.As for pricing and availability, we know the March 1 unveiling is official and sources suggest that the Vivo XPlay 5 could cost as much as INR 50,000 although we find that a little too steep to...


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Now you can blur literally anything in your YouTube video
Building on the face-blurring capability it introduced back in 2012, YouTube has launched a new tool that lets you blur anything in your video, even if the object in question moves. Dubbed Custom Blurring, the tool is currently only available on the desktop website."Whether you want to blur sensitive information such as a license plate or cover up a wardrobe malfunction without reshooting an entire scene, the new Custom Blurring tool will let you blur objects throughout your video, right within YouTube," the company said in a blog post.To use the tool, first choose the video you want to edit and then select the Custom Blurring option from the Blurring Effects tab of the Enhancements tool. Once done, select the object you want to blur by drawing a box around it (as shown in the GIF above)."At any time, you can move the blurred area, resize it and choose when the blur starts and stops. There is also a "Lock" option to blur something that doesn't move at...


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Microsoft cans Project Astoria for porting Android apps to Windows
Last year at the Build conference, Microsoft announced what was called Project Astoria, a bridge that will allow developers to port their existing Android apps easily to Windows 10. The feature eventually disappeared from Windows 10 builds that came out after that, which caused some people to wonder what was happening with the feature. Microsoft has now confirmed that it will no longer be working on that.Microsoft stated that the company will instead focus only on the iOS Bridge that allows developers to port their iOS apps to Windows, instead of having one each for iOS and Android as "having two Bridge technologies to bring code from mobile operating systems to Windows was unnecessary, and the choice between them could be confusing."Microsoft also recently acquired the company Xamarin that lets developers write their apps in one language and then customize it for different platforms. Microsoft thinks these two methods, along with the Web Bridge (for porting web apps) and Project Centennial (for porting existing Win32 and .NET apps) will be enough options for developers looking to port their apps to Windows 10 platforms.Source •...


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One M10's camera will be "very, very compelling," says HTC
Looks like HTC is very bullish on the camera of its next flagship smartphone - most likely to be called the One M10. The Taiwanese company has said that the device will offer "a very, very compelling camera experience.""We can confidently say that HTC will have a very, very compelling camera experience," Chief Financial Officer Chialin Chang said in an interview at MWC 2016. "We're making this comment after we've seen what's going on in the market -" he was, obviously, referring to Samsung's and LG's latest offerings.The One M10 is rumored to feature a 12MP UltraPixel rear camera with phase detection and laser autofocus as well as optical image stabilization, and a 5MP UltraPixel front shooter. In case you aren't already aware, an UltraPixel camera has bigger pixels, which let in more light to provide comparatively higher quality imaging experience even in...


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February security update starts hitting Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
Verizon has started pushing out the February Android security patch to Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 units on its network. The update - which started rolling out yesterday - bumps the tablet's software version to LMY47X.T817VVRS2APB2.Sadly, there isn't any detailed change-log included with the update, meaning it isn't yet clear what else the update brings along. "The current software update gives you the most up to date Android security patch on your device," Verizon's release notes say.Given that the update has just started rolling out, it won't hit all Verizon Galaxy Tab S2 units at the same time, so be patient if your device hasn't got it already. In case you missed, the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition has also started receiving the February security...


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Samsung Galaxy S6 edge (128GB, unlocked) now selling for just $460 in US
With Samsung unveiling its latest and greatest Galaxy S7 and S7 edge and the devices all set to go on sale next month, it shouldn't be surprising that last year's Galaxy flagships have started receiving price cuts. Case in point: Galaxy S6 edge.The edge variant of the Galaxy S7 predecessor is now available in the US for $460 - that's for the unlocked, 128GB gold-colored model. QualityCellz on eBay is selling the device for that price. The model on offer is compatible with both GSM carriers and Verizon.For comparison, Amazon has the 32GB version listed for around $550, while T-Mobile is selling the 128GB variant for $680. In case you missed, the handset also won the "Best Smartphone 2015" at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.Source |...


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HTC smartwatch will "turn the industry on its head," says CEO
HTC CEO Cher Wang is confident that the company will make a splash in the smartwatch market with its own offering. She talked about the device in an interview at the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.However, she didn't say much except that, "When HTC comes out with a smartwatch, we will turn the industry on its head." CFO Neither Chang, who was also present alongside Wang, said the company still needs to figure out how a smartwatch would fit with other HTC products before launching one.Rumors that HTC is developing a smartwatch first cropped up way back in 2013, with the latest ones suggesting that the wearable device - allegedly dubbed HTC One - will be launched in April this...


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HTC One M10 rumored to come in three storage options
HTC's upcoming One M10 flagship - which is known internally by the codename Perfume - will come in three internal memory options: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. This was revealed by the usually reliable leakster @LlabTooFeR.HTC Perfume is supposed to have 3 internal memory options: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB (depends on the market).— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) February 24, 2016He, however, said that the availability of these storage options will depend on the market. Aside from different internal memory options, the device is also already rumored to come in two different hardware versions (also depending on the market): one powered by Snapdragon 820, while the other one with a yet-unknown MediaTek SoC.Other rumored specs of the device include 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, 4GB RAM, 12MP/5MP UltraPixel camera combo, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It is also said to feature a fingerprint scanner. In case you missed, HTC recently officially released a One M10 teaser image showing the handset's...


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Moto X Pure Edition starts receiving February security patch
Google's latest security patch is being rolled out to Moto X Pure Edition users soon. The process should take a few days for it to fully roll out and as you know, it'll be rolled out in random batches of devices.This update will bring up your Android security patch level to February 1, 2016. Also, if you'd like, you can check out Google's latest overview of what has been patched for...


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Apple to allegedly launch 9.7 inch iPad Pro at March event
Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 5se along with an iPad device. However a new report claims that this iPad device will be a new variant of the iPad Pro. Apple will allegedly launch a 9.7 inch iPad Pro, complete with Apple Pencil compatibility and possible discontinuation of the original iPad Air.This new iPad Pro model will bring the same internals as the 12.9 inch model, while sporting a more compact design, still aimed for productivity. The report also says that Apple is working on a smaller detachable keyboard to connect to the new 9.7 inch iPad Pro's Smart Connector.This new alleged smaller iPad Pro will also feature the same quad-speaker setup, available in the same color and memory capacity configurations as the iPad Pro with pricing more in line with the current iPad Air 2.This new iPad Pro might even slow down or discontinue production of the older generation iPad Mini 2 and the first generation of iPad Air devices. This should help Apple to streamline its iPad product line.At the same event. Apple will also announce a new 4 inch iPhone 5se with updated hardware internals, live photos, Apple Pay, and the latest camera technologies.Source |...


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Xiaomi confirms 18 LTE bands for Mi5, compatible with all major US carriers
Xiaomi posted a Q & A on its own official forum with some more specific information about the newly announced Mi5. The Xiaomi Mi5 supports LTE bands: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 12 / 13 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 with bands 38 / 39 / 40 / 41 left with uncertainty.The Mi5 will also be bootloader locked by default. The company explicitly states it does not condone or recommend that you unlock your bootloader for security reasons. It even goes a step further and recommends that you use "Mi Cloud" services in the event that your phone does get lost or stolen. An unlocked bootloader will not protect your data in either of these cases.Besides this information, the Q&A also talks about general differences between the new Mi5 models, specs, pricing and availability.The Mi5 will launch in the company's home country of China and will be available on March 1 for a price of around $300. This makes the Mi5 the cheapest phone with a Snapdragon 820 CPU...


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Deal: AT&T or Verizon branded LG G4 for $300
LG is getting a lot of attention with the latest flagship offering, the LG G5. Therefore, the LG G4 is being heavily discounted and available for your benefit. An eBay seller has brand new, unopened 32GB LG G4s in Metallic Gray going for $300.You can choose between a Verizon branded and AT&T branded device (reminder that Verizon phones do come factory unlocked). These devices also come with the standard 1 year manufacturer's warranty.The LG G4 was released in April of 2015 and features a 5.5 inch screen with 1440p resolution. It sports a snapdragon 808 hexa-core CPU paired with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 418 GPU.The G4 was also among the best smartphone cameras available last year. It has a 16MP main sensor with OIS and laser focus with an 8MP front-facing cameras for higher quality...


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iPhone 5se unveiling now rumored to happen on March 22
The oft-leaked new 4-inch iPhone 5se has so far been rumored to be officially introduced at an event on March 15. On the same occasion, Apple will reportedly also announce the iPad Air 3 as well as certain improvements for the Apple Watch (but not a new wearable).Now though a new rumor out of South Korea claims that Apple's big spring event has been pushed back - though just by exactly one week. Hence, it's apparently going to take place on March 22.Unfortunately Apple itself hasn't yet sent out invites, so take all of this with a pinch of salt since it could be nothing more than speculation. The iPhone 5se should cost $450 with 16GB of storage, sans contract. Past leaks have said it would sport specs borrowed from the iPhone 6, but in a body the same size as that of the iPhone 5s.Source (in...


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LG G5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: Flagship slugfest
This is why we love the MWC - some of the best phones of the year were announced almost side by side. Two of the headliners are the LG G5 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and we know how heated the competition between G-series and Galaxy flagship can get.


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All about the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge [VIDEO]
We got our hands on a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge in Barcelona and had some time to play with it. You bet we took it for a walk around the beautiful Catalan city and snapped quite a few shots with its camera.We find the S7 edge quite an attractive and capable fella, and it left us with very positive impressions. The same goes for its camera, which introduces ground-breaking auto-focus tech.We already have a pretty detailed article up online, but we're proud to show you the phone on...


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Hugo Barra: Xiaomi Mi 5 to launch only in core markets, global availability - doubtful
Yesterday Xiaomi announced the Mi 5 flagship - a genuinely impressive device with three different versions. It features either glass/metal or glass/ceramic build and packs a 5.15" IPS 1080p display, a Snapdragon 820 chip with 3GB or 4GB RAM, a 16MP OIS rear camera, a 4MP UltraPixel selfie snapper, 32/64/128GB storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery. It is also the first device to introduce the Marshmallow-based MIUI 7.Xiaomi's VP Hugo Barra announced the company's latest and greatest at a dedicated event held at the MWC. It quickly gathered lots of positive first impressions, not only for its specs but because of the hint of an international availability later on.As it turns out, the global launch may have been exaggerated. In a recent interview, Hugo Barra revealed Xiaomi only has plans for making Xiaomi Mi5 available only on the current markets it operates on. He confirmed Xiaomi is eyeing other markets, but "it's far too early to make any statements".Barra continued that he isn't withholding information; he honestly doesn't know how the things will pan out in the future. He wants Xiaomi to become officially available in Europe and the USA but this expansion is only on the wishlist for now. What he hopes for though is that the announcement event in Barcelona wouls help build up Xiaomi's brand internationally.Later this year the Mi 5 should hit Xiaomi's core markets - China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, and probably, Brazil. We might see it in even more markets after that, but as of now it's rather unlikely. It seems the rest of the world is left to rely on gray...


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New Android Support Library 23.2 brings day/night mode and bottom sheets to app devs
Google has posted a few snapshots of Android Support Library 23.2 including an interesting pair that seems to showcase a Bluetooth connection interface complete with a new UI element - a sandwich menu. This could be a sneak preview of a new setting layout within the next Android N version of the OS or not.But, considering the screencaps showcase the new Day/Night modes in the AppCompact theme and by design the Android Support Library usually works across many Android versions, we are a lot more inclined to believe that Google is simply using an internal app with a Bluetooth menu to showcase the new feature.Hamburger menu in Settings menuSuch is the case with the just announced Bottom Sheets feature, which is showcased in the Google Maps app where this new design element is used to show context info. It can also be used to display info that is usually found on pop-ups.New Bottom Sheets demoed in appsIt remains seen whether this Hamburger menu will really be part of the next Android version, but one thing is for certain - the rest of the new UI features should come to older Android versions as...


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